SOME OF THE FAMILIAR BIRDS OF INDIA. 469 
enlarged it sufficiently to give entrance to themselves and the 
rubbish which they require for their nests. Its chirp is loud and 
shrill, and is continued with such pertinacity as to become ex- 
tremely annoying. Indeed Dr. Jerdon pronounces this bird and 
the common squirrel (Sciurus palmarum) “two of the greatest pests 
in India.” The ill-mannered creature has no regard for sacred 
places, but enters the churches and chapels with the utmost freedom, 
screaming out its loudest notes, being provoked thereto, perhaps, 
by the singing of the congregation. I have been almost distracted 
when preaching to a native assembly, by half a dozen or a dozen 
of these noisy creatures chirping with all their might over my 
head and in every part of the room. It is of little use to drive 
them out; for if they are driven out through the door they will 
come in at the window, and if through the window they will return 
at the door. Their persistence is more than a match for human 
patience, nothing short of decapitation seems to be sufficient to keep 
them from their mischief. I have suddenly closed the doors and 
Windows upon them, and chased them back and forth until in their 
fright they have fallen helpless to the floor ; have taken them in my 
hand and done everything to frighten them, but out of sheer pity 
have let them go alive, only to have them return to their work of 
destruction at the first opportunity. 
have been more particular in describing this bird because of 
— the recent attempt to introduce a closely allied species (Passer 
domesticus) into America. I confess that I look with some appre- 
hension upon these efforts which I believe to be ill-advised and 
mexpedient. The European house sparrow does not differ essen- 
tially in its habits from its Indian ally, and so far as I can learn, it 
Tuy generally regarded as a nuisance wherever it abounds. In 
Ena parts of England a bounty is placed upon its head and con- 
siderable sums of money are paid for its destruction. In Spain it 
is said by Mr. Howard Saunders to be “as abundant and impudent 
"a elsewhere.” The Passer domesticus is the common sparrow of 
Syria, according to the Rey. H. B. Tristram, who says of it, “in its 
Vestward migrations it has acquired neither additional impudence, 
oe hor voracity.” Dr. Thomson also describes these same 
_ Syrian sparrows in the following spirited style. He says: “ They 
=a OY S tame, troublesome, and impertinent generation, and nestle 
where ou don’t want them. They stop up your stove and 
ater pipes with their rubbish, build in the windows and under the 
